Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Cut Paper - Paper Bag Puppets

The children use paper and glue to turn ordinary paper bags into charming puppets. For Ages 3 to 6. Plan 1 session.

KEY IDEAS

Cutting with scissors

Using glue

Learning to contrast colors

LANGUAGE
puppet, contrast

YOU WILL NEED

Brown paper bags (small lunch-size bags)

Colored construction paper

Glue sticks

Slightly dampened sponges to wipe sticky fingers

Scissors

THE PROJECTPreparation

Set out paper bags and colored construction paper.

Set out scissors, glue, and slightly dampened sponges.

How to Begin

In this session the children will be making paper bag puppets. Explain that a puppet is a toy person or animal that is controlled by a person’s hand. Place an undecorated paper bag on your hand with four fingers in the folded section. Animate the bag, making it “talk” by opening and closing the folded area.

With the bag unopened, show the children that the face of the puppet should be glued to the bottom panel of the bag and that the folded area will be the mouth where a tongue or teeth can be glued.

Tell the children that they will be sharing the colored paper on their tables to make their puppets. Each child should start by choosing one color of paper. When finished cutting from it, he or she should return the paper to the middle of the table for someone else to use, and then choose another color. Assure the children that there is more of each color if needed. (A bin of left-over papers is fun to search through for special and unusual colors.)

Demonstrate the proper way to hold and use scissors. The thumb goes in the small hole and two or three fingers go in the larger hole. With the blade of the scissors opened wide, place the paper deep into the opening, taking advantage of the whole blade while cutting.

When decorating the puppets, explain that colors that are different, or contrast, will be easier to see. Demonstrate this by placing a piece of paper on top of another that is the same color, such as red on red. Then place the same piece of paper on a different color of paper, such as red on yellow. Ask which is easier to see.

Explain that glue should be applied to the smaller piece of paper that is then pressed onto the paper bag. Caution the children about using too much glue. Sticky fingers can be wiped on the dampened sponges.

Have the children cut and glue paper to their bags to create their puppets.

NOTES

Paper bags made with strong fibers hold up better and are easier for the children to manipulate.

Use a plain paper bag with no decorations for your demonstration so the children can use their own imaginations to create their puppets.

Be sure the children understand to not glue paper over the fold that will serve as the puppet's mouth.

The ball of yarn in the cat's paw shown in the first photograph was made with a stray piece of yarn that the child found in the art room. Adding props such as the yarn or the lipstick in the lady's hand in the second photograph can make these characters even more charming.

LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR WORK

Point out colors on the puppets that contrast and are easy to see.

Discuss additions to the puppets that give them character.

Let the children become puppeteers to show off their work.

What the children might say...

My scissors won’t cut the paper.

I made a long tail for my cat, but where can I glue it?

How can I make feet for my puppet?

Can I make my puppet talk now?

What you might say...

Your scissors will be easier to use if you put your thumb in the small hole and your fingers in the larger hole.

You can glue the cat’s tale to the back of the paper bag.

Feet are not necessary, however if you’d like, you can glue them to the bottom of the bag.

You can put your puppet on your hand and make it talk very carefully until we are sure the glue has dried.

Welcome

What children know about art, grown artists are at pains to recapture. This is the joy of teaching art to children. It is also the great challenge. This website is for any adult — teachers, parents — looking for step-by-step guidance in how to instruct and develop, without overwhelming or dampening, the artist inside every child.

You will find art projects here that I have put together over a long career of teaching art to children from ages 3 to 13. Each lesson plan is self-contained with all the information needed to complete the project: the target age; the key concepts to be learned; the materials needed; helpful notes to avoid pitfalls; and some anticipated conversations you may have with your young artists as they are working. Before you begin, here are four foundational principles for any adult teaching art to children:

1) Instruct but do not do. Discuss a child's work. Demonstrate techniques. Share ideas. But do not touch the work itself.

2) Never start with a pre-cut shape. Never trace. Start from scratch. A child's circle will be more interesting than your own.

3) Quality materials and an organized, inviting workspaceare an essential backdrop for creative chaos. Invest in good supplies and take time to set up.

4) Look. Look at the greats; no child is too young for art history. Look at the world; learning to make art is learning to see and find pleasure in details.

Art education should begin young. Inhibition is the adversary, and it often creeps in by around seventh grade. Have fun with these projects and celebrate beautiful works with pride.

Blog Archive

About Me

I have taught art for over twenty-five years in public, private, and Montessori schools, both in the United States and Hong Kong. I have a degree in art education and my teaching experience spans pre-school children through eighth-grade. Please feel free to contact me at JulieNVoigt [at] gmail.com.

Acknowledgements

All the artworks in the photographs were done by children from the Elementary Workshop Montessori School. Scroll over the pictures to see their titles and the ages of the artists. Click on the pictures to see a larger version. Credit for the photography goes to Madeline Polss, Leo Matkins, Bill Deering, and Carson Zullinger.

I owe a great deal of gratitude to Lillian Shah, a long time director of the Elementary Workshop, for helping to make this project come to be. During my years of teaching, she was a tireless collaborator and a passionate supporter of art for children.

I also thank my daughter Emily and my husband Henry for their encouragement, editing, and help in setting up my blog.